MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first learned of the potential bout last week from a source close to Maynard. Additionally, while a recent guest on ESPN’s “Between Rounds” radio program, Maynard confirmed with show host Ken Gonzalez that the UFC planned for him to return at the upcoming event, though he didn’t mention an opponent. (ESPN’s “Between Rounds” is a content-partner site of MMAjunkie.com.)

Calls to Grice were not immediately returned.

If officially booked, the Maynard vs. Grice bout could end up on the televised UFC Fight Night 12 main card, which airs on Spike TV.

Maynard, a Randy Couture-trained fighter who’s part of the Xtreme Couture team in Las Vegas, appeared on the fifth season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” The 28-year-old posted victories over Wayne Weems in a preliminary fight and Brandon Melendez in the show’s quarterfinals, but he was halted (via guillotine choke) in the quarterfinals by eventual show winner Nate Diaz.

Maynard, who wrestled with Rashad Evans at Michigan State Univerity, was then scheduled to fight Rob Emerson at The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale in June, but the fight was ruled a no-contest when Maynard slammed his opponent to the mat. Emerson worsened a pre-existing rib injury and was forced to verbally submit, but Maynard temporarily knocked himself out in the process, prompting a ruling of a no-contest. Maynard, though, rebounded for an impressive nine-second KO of newcomer Joe Veres at UFC Fight Night 11 in September.

Maynard’s next likely opponent, Grice, is a former University of Oklahoma wrestler who rebounded from a submission loss to Terry Etim at UFC 70 with a split-decision victory over Jason Black at UFC 77 last month.

Grice’s collegiate wrestling career was cut short by injuries he suffered in a car accident prior to his freshman year of college. However, when his health improved, he gave professional MMA shot, and the 26-year-old has now lost just once in 10 pro fights.

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